Category: Denmark

The wonderful Copenaghen

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Copenaghen is one of the most liveable capitals in Europe, because of the danish people, that are really friendly, because of the food (in Copenaghen are based some restaurants worldwide famous: the danish cuisine is mainly organic and effectively innovative), because it is a sustainable cycle-friendly city and its architecture and design are modern and unique.

 

In these photo galleries you can have a look at some of the must see attractions of the city.

Nyhavn is a picturesque canal, where the ferries leave to sail the city; it is the best place where to have dinner or a drink at the sunset hour.

 

Amalienborg is the winter residence of the Danish Royal Family, where you can see the the Royal Guard, an elite force of the Danish Army for the security of the Queen.Royal Guards are in their everyday uniform, with the dark blue jacket and dark blue trousers with the Bear – the bear skin head garment. The red jackets and bright blue trousers is the gala uniform for few specific times.

 

The Royal Danish Naval Museum and the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. The Royal Yacht serves as the official and private residence for the Royal Couple and other members of the Royal Family when they are on official visits overseas or on summer cruises in home waters.

 

The Rosemborg Castle.Royal hermitage set in the King’s Garden in the heart of Copenhagen, built by the most famous Scandinavian king, Christian IV.

 

In this gallery also a shot of the Øresund, the longest cable-stayed bridge of Europe.

Øresund - longest cable-stayed bridge of Europe
Øresund – longest cable-stayed bridge of Europe

 

Check them out!

 

Other galleries of Copenaghen: Freetown Christiania, the Little Marmaid and the Kastellet, Nyhavn and the beautiful old and moder buildings.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D, Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II

Freetown Christiania – Copenaghen

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Christiania is a unique place to visit in the borough of Christianshavn in Copenaghen (Denmark),  known for its autonomous inhabitants’ different way of life.

It was established in 1971 by a group of hippies who occupied some abandoned military barracks and developed their own set of society rules, completely independent of the Danish government.

They claimed the area as a free city, free of taxes and run by their own laws. It is still a society within a society, for an example you cannot buy a house in Christiania.

Around 1000 people permanently living in Christiania, and its constructions exemplifying modern “architecture without architects”.

Visitors are welcome in Christiania and to eat and drink in the area’s cafés, restaurants and bars, but it’ no safety take photographs in Christiania, especially in the area around Pusher Street, so, this is the reason because there are not people in this photo gallery.

In Pusher Street hash and skunk weed were sold openly from permanent stands until 2004. The hash commerce is controversial, but legalization of cannabis is one of the ideas of many of the citizens in Christiania.

 

Gear: Canon EOS 6D and Canon EF 16-35mm F/4L IS USM

Old and modern architecture in Copenaghen (Part #1)

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Copenaghen is known for good contemporary design,  furniture, lights and… the absolutely stunning city architecture. Besides the major historic architecture, Copenhagen is filled with contemporary buildings of the highest quality.

Water, space, sustainability and light are the key elements in the recent architectural boom in maritime Copenhagen. Remarkably, you rarely find the new clashing with the old. More often than not, the contemporary architecture in Copenhagen actually heightens the experience of the historic buildings and streets.

So, in this first part of photo gallery dedicated to Copenaghen’s buildings, I blend together old buildings photos and modern building photos, as well as you can see walking in this beautiful city.

In this gallery:

  • Rosemborg Castle, a royal hermitage set in the King’s Garden in the heart of Copenhagen, built by the most famous Scandinavian king, Christian IV.
  • Marble Church, with the characteristic copper green dome is one of the most impressive churches of the city.
  • St. Paul’s Church, also colloquially known as Nyboder’s Church.
  • Copenaghen city hall.
  • Sølvgade Skole (Elementary school), contrary to appearances, is Denmark’s oldest school (built in 1847). Architect C.F. Møller has renovated the school and done an colorful modernistic  extension.
  • Some industrial buildings (warehouses, factories) converted for civil use, as school or houses.
  • Some modern houses on the water. One of these, with internal pier for small boats.
  • An angle of the Stroget (the longes pedestrian street in Europe)

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D, Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II

The Little Marmaid and Kastellet – Copenaghen

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A well maintained and attractive location in Copenaghen (Denmark), nice to walking round, is the beautiful Kastellet or Old Citadel.

The Citadel is Europe’s oldest military bastion and still in operation. Built as an old fortification to protect Copenhagen from the Seaside, it has the shape of a pentagram with five bastions that served as a defence installation until the mid 19th century.

Most of the buildings in the old Citadel are still intact from the 1600’s and are now used mainly for military purposes and houses Defence Intelligence and the Danish Home Guard.

Walking into the Citadel we can see many different buildings: the Commander’s House, the residence of the commander of Kastellet, two storehouses, a church and a prison, a Powder House and also a Windmill.

Walking outside the Citadel it’s also a nice place to have a walk around. Enjoy some green space, a great views of St Alban’s Church and Gefion Fountain.

Close to the old citadel you will find one of Copenhagen’s most famous tourist attractions and the Copenaghen’s icon: the Little Mermaid Statue.

The sculpture was commissioned by Carl Jacobsen of Carlsberg (the famous danish beer, of course) as a gift to Copenhagen, and was made by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen in 1913 in bronze and granite.

The statue was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid.

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D and Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

Nyhavn – Copenaghen, Denmark

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Nyhavn (ny-new havn-harbour in Danish) is a must-go district in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is the most picturesque city site: lots of brightly coloured 17th and 18th century townhouses, cafes and restaurants, historical wooden boats along the canal, with a great relaxed atmosphere.

Nyhavn was constructed by King Christian V in 1600s, originally as commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock. It was a place were sailors came to get drunk and find prostitutes. The area upgraded in order to get rid of this activity only few years ago.

Hans Christian Andersen lived in the red house at number 20

 

Gear: Canon Eos 6D and Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM